Fishermen from Teesside and North Yorkshire need to accept the scale of the crisis facing their industry if fishing grounds are to be kept open.

David Bowe, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and Labour's environment spokesman in the European Parliament, says that unless fishermen accept limitations being put on catch sizes to protect stocks, some richer fishing grounds may have to be closed.

Last month, the European Commission recommended scaling back catch sizes to allow stocks of fish to recover after years of overfishing.

The EC warned that unless the restrictions were properly enforced, there would be further cuts next year and possibly fewer boats allowed to put to sea, which has angered fishermen.

But some politicians, including Mr Bowe, fear fishermen are not accepting the scale of the crisis.

"If these measures are to work, everyone involved with the industry needs to recognise that this could well be the last chance to avoid disaster," said Mr Bowe.

Last month, fishermen from Whitby joined the protests.

Spokesman Fred Normandale said: "The most endangered species in the North Sea is not cod, it's the British fisherman. It's a political move by the EC to continue to get rid of northern fleets."